CHICAGO -- Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Thursday afternoon that his removal from office did not come as a shock.

“Let me begin by saying I am obviously saddened and disappointed, but not at all surprised by what the Senate did today,” Blagojevich said at a news conference outside his home in the Ravenswood neighborhood. “It’s something I knew they would do a long time ago.”

Blagojevich started speaking before his successor, Gov. Pat Quinn, had finished his initial news conference in Springfield.

Saying that he was grateful for the opportunity to serve, Blagojevich made a short statement in which he reiterated the themes he has relied on since his impeachment began – that he was simply trying to do the best he could for the people of Illinois.

“I want to say to all of you, the people of Illinois, who I’ve been blessed to represent as governor for the last six years, and before that as a Congressman for six years, and before that as a state legislator, and before that as a prosecutor, that I love the people of Illinois today, now, more than I ever did before,” Blagojevich said.

In response, a person in the crowd yelled “we love you too.” Blagojevich nodded and said “Thank you.”

After concluding his statement, Blagojevich waded into the crowd outside the house, shaking hands and speaking to people who had gathered to watch the news conference.

GateHouse News Service

5:45 p.m.: Quinn sworn in as governor

Pat Quinn has been officially sworn in as Illinois' 41st governor, minutes after embattled Rod Blagojevich was ousted by the Illinois Senate.

Quinn took his oath of office with Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke on the House floor. Several lawmakers, mostly Republican senators, were present, along with Secretary of State Jesse White, Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Attorney General Lisa Madigan and friends and family.

Onlookers gave Quinn a standing ovation as he went to take the oath and afterward.

Quinn urged the people of Illinois to work together to pull the state up from a moment where hearts are hurt. "We have a duty, a mission to restore the faith of the people of Illinois," Quinn said.

“I think the people of the Land of Lincoln are very, very proud of our elected representatives for reflecting the will of the people," Quinn said.

State Capitol Bureau

5 p.m.: Senate bars Blagojevich from holding public office

Following up on the 59-0 vote to remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich from his current post as governor, the Illinois Senate just voted unanimously to forbid him from ever again holding public office in Illinois.

Former Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn now is Illinois' governor. He is expected to take the oath of office shortly so he can assume gubernatorial powers.

State Capitol Bureau

4:55 p.m.: Blagojevich unanimously convicted

The Illinois Senate voted unanimously Thursday to convict former Gov. Rod Blagojevich in his impeachment trial, making him the first Illinois governor to ever be removed from office by way of impeachment.

The Senate actually voted twice. The tally on Blagojevich's fate ran into some technical troubles when Senate President John Cullerton's vote was not electronically recorded, so a re-vote took place.

The conviction capped a stunning six-week series of events that started with Blagojevich’s arrest on federal corruption charges. The Illinois House moved quickly, impeaching Blagojevich by an overwhelming margin in early January.

The Senate heard four days of testimony this week before voting 59-0 to remove the governor. Former Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn immediately became governor at the conclusion of the vote.

Blagojevich, 52, gave his own closing argument Thursday, giving an impassioned 45-minute speech where he proclaimed his innocence of any wrongdoing and reiterated his argument that he was trying to do the right thing for the people of Illinois. House prosecutor David Ellis, in a short rebuttal, hammered away at the governor’s defense by repeatedly citing examples that he said show the former governor’s public persona is not supported by his actions in private.

Blagojevich’s problems are not over. He still faces a criminal investigation into allegations of corruption in his administration.

Blagojevich and his former chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested Dec. 9. Blagojevich is accused of wide-ranging corruption, including trying to shake down a children’s hospital CEO for a campaign contribution by withholding funds and attempting to force the Chicago Tribune to fire editorial writers in exchange for the state’s help in selling Wrigley Field, which is owned by the newspaper’s parent company.

But the most shocking revelation was the accusation that Blagojevich tried to auction off the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama. According to U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, Blagojevich attempted to use his ability to appoint a replacement to trade an appointment to the Senate for a better job for himself or his wife.

Although the criminal charges were a part of the impeachment order, the General Assembly focused more on Blagojevich’s contentious relationship with the Legislature and accusations that he blatantly abused his power. Among the charges were accusations that he repeatedly circumvented the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and that he violated state and federal laws on hiring employees.

Blagojevich has said repeatedly that the Senate trial was an unfair process that deprived him of his Constitutional rights, and he boycotted the trial until Thursday, instead traveling to New York to make several TV appearances to air his grievances. Among his complaints was that the Senate would not let him call witnesses. The Senate rules did allow for the calling of witnesses, but Fitzgerald refused to Blagojevich to call witnesses who may be involved in the criminal investigation.

State Capitol Bureau

3:50 p.m.: All senators that have spoken indicate they will vote to convict

More than 20 senators have commented up to this point in the deliberations in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment trial, and all have indicated they will vote to remove the governor from office.

If 40 senators vote to convict the governor in his impeachment trial, he no longer will be the state's chief executive, and that job will go to Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn.

"Rod Blagojevich is not a reflection of the good will of the people of Illinois, " said Sen. Martin Sandoval, D-Chicago, one of the latest speakers to finish.

An official vote hasn't yet happened, but will come when senators finish their comments.

State Capitol Bureau

2:30 p.m.: Senate begins deliberations

The Illinois Senate has begun deliberations in the impeachment trial of Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, is presiding over the chamber now, rather than Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald, who presided over most of the proceedings so far.

The first to speak is Sen. William Haine, D-Edwardsville, who says Blagojevich committed "an arrogant assumption of power."

"We must find him unfit for this great office," Haine said in conclusion.

Any senator who wants to speak during this time will be permitted to do so. It's not clear how long the deliberations will last.

State Capitol Bureau

1:40 p.m.: Arguments done, senators meet

Prosecutor David Ellis' rebuttal to Gov. Rod Blagojevich's closing argument marked the end of the governor's impeachment trial.

After Ellis finished, Senate Republicans and Democrats asked for separate, closed-door caucuses. The full Senate is expected to begin deliberating at about 2:15 p.m.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich says he's happy that he can address the allegations made against him by House prosecutor David Ellis "one-by-one."

In addressing the FamilyCare health program, Blagojevich said that his actions were legal and that the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules is an "advisory committee" that can't "dictate to" the executive branch. House prosecutors have argued that Blagojevich inappropriately ignored JCAR recommendations .

Regarding his expansion of FamilyCare in defiance of JCAR, Blagojevich said he felt a moral obligation to provide health care to low income families.

About his plan to purchase shipments of flu vaccine from overseas, a move the U.S. government wouldn't allow, the governor asked how the Senate could throw him out of office for trying to protect senior citizens and infants.

About his plan to buy medicine from Canada, Blagojevich again said he was acting to help families and seniors.

Blagojevich said that if he's getting impeached, the governors of Wisconsin, Kansas and Vermont should be impeached as well, because they worked with him on purchasing the medicine. He also said McCain and Kennedy should be expelled from the U.S. Senate and that President Barack Obama should fire his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, for working with the governor on the prescription drug plan.

Eric Naing, State Capitol Bureau

11:30 a.m.: Blagojevich says tapes prove no criminal activity

Gov. Rod Blagojevich says the 13 articles of impeachment brought against him could be broken down into two main parts: those regarding the criminal complaint and those regarding his alleged abuse of power.

"How can you throw the governor out of office on a criminal complaint and you haven't been able to show any criminal activity?" Blagojevich asked the Senate.

The House prosecution team only brought evidence for one of the eight articles of impeachment regarding the criminal activity. That evidence was the recordings said to have outlined an attempt at getting a campaign contribution, Blagojevich said.

Blagojevich added that his activity on the four recordings played for the Senate was something every politician does so he or she can run for office.

"There was no criminal activity on those four tapes," Blagojevich said.

As for special FBI agent Daniel Cain's testimony, Blagojevich said his testimony simply consisted of reading his affidavit, not bringing any new knowledge to the trial.

In a brief aside, Blagojevich offered a quick story about how when he was in the U.S. Congress, he encountered U.S. Sen. John Warner of Virginia. Blagojevich mentioned that Warner once was married to actress Elizabeth Taylor, and that Warner mistook Blagojevich to be a staffer, so he asked him for coffee. Rather than correct Warner's mistake, Blagojevich said, he asked Warner how he took his coffee. Black, came the response.

He is repeating his oft-repeated assertion that he should have been able to call pretty much any witness he wanted to in his impeachment trial, particularly people he spoke with about the vacant U.S. Senate seat formerly occupied by Barack Obama. That would include, for instance, presidential Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel.

So, Blagojevich said, in an apparent reference to his media tour earlier this week: "I talked to as many people as I possibly could."

Blagojevich says he found a lot of public sympathy from people who said, "of course you're entitled" to call anyone as a witness.

State Capitol Bureau

11:10 a.m.: Governor begins speaking

Gov. Rod Blagojevich has just entered the Senate chamber to present his closing argument in his impeachment trial.

The governor is currently giving his closing argument, reiterating his contentions that he has done nothing wrong and that the Senate trial was an unfair process.

Blagojevich has been allotted 90 minutes for his closing argument.

State Capitol Bureau

11:02 a.m.: Senate waits for Blagojevich

The Senate impeachment trial of Gov. Rod Blagojevich is taking a quick break, waiting for Blagojevich to arrive in the chamber and launch his closing argument -- presumably about why he shouldn't be removed from office.

Here's some more information from House prosecutor David Ellis' closing argument:

On the FBI wiretaps, Ellis noted, Blagojevich indicated multiple times that he no longer wished to be governor and said that he was frustrated that he was "stuck" as governor.

Ellis said the Senate rules adopted for the trial were "evenhanded and fair" and that "they apply equally to both sides."

Ellis refuted the governor's claims that the rules are not fair. Ellis said that he, too, was hurt by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's prohibition on testimony from witnesses tied to Blagojevich's criminal case.

Ellis also praised the senators, calling their questions "insightful and deliberative." He also said that they have "done honor to the Constitution"

Finally, Ellis asked the Senate to judge the governor "on the totality of his actions."

"The people of this state deserve so much better," said Ellis. "The governor should be removed from office."

Eric Naing, State Capitol Bureau

11 a.m.: Ellis wraps up closing argument

House prosecutor David Ellis has wrapped up his closing argument, listing reasons why Gov. Rod Blagojevich should be removed from office.

Among many things, Ellis discussed how Blagojevich fundraiser Ali Ata bought his position at Illinois Finance Authority for two $25,000 contributions, how Blagojevich traded hospital permits for contributions, and how he told Democratic fundraiser and businessman Joseph Cari that he intended to use his power to award state contracts in exchange for political and financial favors

Ellis also said the governor illegally expanded the FamilyCare state health insurance program. Ellis noted that the governor's intentions may have been good, but his actions were still illegal.

Ellis then noted how the governor knew that his flu vaccine procurement plan was illegal but that he went ahead with it anyway.

"The state is still on the hook for that $2.6 million," said Ellis.

Eric Naing, State Capitol Bureau

10:50 a.m.: Governor arrives to give his closing argument

Gov. Rod Blagojevich has arrived to give his closing argument in his impeachment trial. He is expected to begin speaking at about 11 a.m. and has been given 90 minutes to present his argument.

10:30 a.m.: Ellis replays tapes, recaps criminal allegations

House prosecutor David Ellis is about 25 minutes into his closing argument in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment trial before the Illinois Senate.

Ellis first recapped the governor's alleged attempts to sell Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat. Ellis said that Blagojevich repeatedly told his subordinates to negotiate on his behalf and that they "should assume everybody's listening, the whole world is listening."

"Who says those words unless they have something to hide, something to cover up?," asked Ellis.

Next, Ellis recapped how the governor allegedly wanted editorial board members of the Chicago Tribune fired in exchange for $150 million in state assistance with the sale of Wrigley Field. According to Ellis, the governor knew what he was doing was wrong because be directed his former chief of staff, John Harris, not to "push too hard" against the paper.

Third, Ellis discussed the governor's alleged pay-to-play schemes. Blagojevich wanted to raise $2.5 million before new ethics bill took effect in January of this year, Ellis said, but the governor would release pediatric care reimbursements only if he got campaign contributions from a hospital executive. Blagojevich also wanted money from a highway contractor in exchange for a tollway project, Ellis said.

Ellis then replayed the covert recordings in which the governor discussed getting campaign contributions from Balmoral Park horse track executive John Johnston in exchange for the signing of a law that would give horse racing tracks a portion of the profits from riverboat casinos.

Eric Naing, State Capitol Bureau

10:10 a.m.: Closing arguments begin in impeachment trial

The fourth, and likely final, day of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment trial in the Illinois Senate has started.

The secretary of the Senate called out the last names of every senator, taking attendance. All 59 senators are here.

By the end of today, Illinois' chief executive could be now-Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn. The opening prayer reflected that possibility, with the pastor praying for "a peaceful transition of executive power."

House prosecutor David Ellis has launched his closing argument, calling on senators to vote to remove Blagojevich from office for his "pattern of abuse" of gubernatorial powers. Blagojevich saw the U.S. Senate appointment, resulting from Barack Obama's election as president, as a "golden goose" he could trade to benefit himself.

In about an hour, Blagojevich is expected to lay out his argument about why senators should let him keep his job. He'll have up to 90 minutes to do that.

His speech will mark his first appearance at the impeachment trial, which began on Monday. On Monday and Tuesday, Blagojevich appeared on various TV interviews, including "The View" and "Larry King Live."

Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald, who is presiding over the trial, has asked that people don't walk in and out of the Senate chamber during any of the closing arguments.

State Capitol Bureau

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